On this day in music history: December 31, 197…

On this day in music history: December 31, 1975 – Casablanca Records throws a lavish release party for the US debut of Donna Summer’s new single “Love To Love You Baby” at The Pachyderm disco in New York City. For the occasion Casablanca has a nearly life size cake of the singer made by Hansen’s Cakes in Los Angeles, CA (recreating the image of Summer from the back cover of the album). The cake is transported to Los Angeles International Airport in a refrigerated ambulance, flown to New York in two first class airline seats (accompanied by Casablanca head of promotion Buck Reingold), then met at the airport in New York by another refrigerated ambulance to the Pierre Hotel, and finally delivered to the disco for the party that night. The party also takes place on the night of Donna Summer’s 27th birthday, also celebrated that evening with members of her family in attendance. The entire event is indicative of the grandeur and extreme excesses that Casablanca Records founder Neil Bogart becomes famous (and infamous) for throughout the 1970’s. The event is written about by author Fredric Dannen in his music business expose “Hit Men”, in the chapter devoted to Casablanca Records.